Easton Council to consider bill for police department inquiry that mayor calls redundant

SHARON K. MERKEL / SPECIAL TO THE MORNING CALL

Easton City Councilman Peter Melan has called for an investigation into the Easton Police Department following a harassment complaint, but city officials say they already conducted an independent investigation into the issue.

Easton City Councilman Peter Melan has called for an investigation into the Easton Police Department following a harassment complaint, but city officials say they already conducted an independent investigation into the issue. (SHARON K. MERKEL / SPECIAL TO THE MORNING CALL)

Easton City Council introduced a bill Wednesday that would authorize an investigation into the Easton Police department following a claim of harassment and discrimination.

Mayor Sal Panto Jr. had said he would ask City Council to pull Bill 47 from the agenda Wednesday, but allowed it to go forward.

A final vote on the bill could be taken at the Nov. 28 council meeting.

The probe was proposed by Easton City Councilman Peter Melan, and would follow an investigation conducted by an independent law firm on behalf of the city earlier this year after a complaint of harassment and discrimination in the department, Panto had said.

Panto said the firm concluded its probe and another investigation would be redundant.

Both Melan and Panto declined further comment on the issue Wednesday night.

Melan oversees the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, which met Tuesday night. The issue was not discussed at that meeting.

City Council met in executive session prior to Wednesday’s meeting to discuss “personnel issues,” said City Solicitor William Murphy.

Panto had said city officials hired the Allentown law firm Norris McLaughlin about two months ago to look into a harassment complaint involving an officer.

“In this case, we felt the severity of the complaint was extreme enough that it required an independent, outside agency to do the investigation,” he told The Morning Call Friday.

The probe came to light after City Councilman Peter Melan requested that City Council consider asking for an investigation at its...

Citing confidentiality laws, Panto said he couldn’t name the officer, provide details of the complaint or comment on the outcome of the investigation. He said the officer was not suspended and has continued to work in the department, though other disciplinary actions were taken, which Panto declined to specify.

Melan’s request appears as Bill 47 on the agenda. It reads, “In accordance with section 2.09 of the City of Easton Home Rule Charter, Council hereby authorizes an investigation into claims of harassment and discrimination within the Easton Police Department.”

Melan’s request was listed on the council agenda that went out Friday afternoon, and came as a surprise to Panto, prompting him to send an email to council and others, including the media, that read: “I want to know how Bill 47 got on the agenda, especially since [the city’s] solicitors [William Murphy and Joel Scheer] have both ruled the study is confidential and this is a slippery slope that council is going down.

“This administration doesn’t take harassment or discrimination lightly and we will follow up on any complaints lodged against an officer, the department or the city. We uphold and follow the harassment policy,” Panto wrote.